Latest news with #LodiFireDepartment
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Firework safety precautions as Lodi police crack down on the use, sales of illegal fireworks
( — As Independence Day approaches, many are getting their lighters and matches in preparation for setting off some fireworks, however, dangers are still near, and the Lodi Police Department is making sure to reduce the number of illegal fireworks and fireworks-related calls for service. Video Above: Man fined over $100,000 for using illegal fireworks on 4th of July in Northern California In collaboration with the Lodi Fire Department and the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office. LPD will be focusing on those who buy, sell and use illegal fireworks throughout June and July. Police said they will be implementing fireworks-focused special enforcement shifts, deploying drones and using technology to help find those who break firework laws. Their online fireworks reporting portal will be reinstated as it helps officers identify the problem areas. The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said serious injuries, deaths and millions of dollars in property loss can occur because of fireworks. Although legal fireworks are relatively safe, there are still risks if proper safety measures are not followed. Sacramento ranked 16th worst city for postal service dog attacks: What to do to ensure the safety of others The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission gave tips on how to be safe: Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Only purchase and set off fireworks that are labeled for consumer use. Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy, in case of fire or other mishap. Never try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Never point or throw fireworks at anyone. After fireworks complete their burning, douse the item with water before discarding. Sac Metro Fire also reminds the community that California has zero tolerance for the sale and use of dangerous fireworks. Officials said it is illegal to sell, transport or use fireworks that do not carry the 'Safe and Sane' seal. Anyone who discharges dangerous fireworks that result in bodily injury can face felony criminal charges. A convicted violator could be fined up to $50,000 and be sent to jail for up to one year said fire officials. More information can be found on Sacramento Metro Fire's website. More safety tips can be found on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Lodi police and fire teaming up to prevent illegal fireworks
May 31—As the summer season approaches, local law enforcement agencies said they will begin enforcing rules prohibiting illegal fireworks in the city. The Lodi Police Department announced on Friday that it will be working with the Lodi Fire Department and the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office to focus on those who buy, sell and use illegal fireworks. Throughout June and July, the department will be implementing fireworks-focused special enforcement shifts, deploying drones and utilizing additional technology to identify and prosecute those who violate fireworks laws. Lodi Municipal Code prohibits the possession of illegal fireworks as well as discharging them on public property. It is also illegal to discharge any fireworks within 10 feet of any residential dwelling. In addition, it is illegal for any minor to sell, purchase, possess, or discharge any fireworks, and for any person who has care or custody of a minor to permit the minor to discharge fireworks. Discharge of any fireworks before 9 a.m. on July 4 and after 11 p.m. that day is also prohibited. Violations can result in several thousand dollars in fines and even jail time. The department said it will also reinstate the online fireworks reporting portal to streamline the process and help officers identify problem locations and neighborhoods. The Lodi Municipal Code includes several "fireworks-specific" sections, and can be viewed online at and typing "fireworks" in the search bar. The department reminds resident to always look for the "safe and sane" logo when purchasing legal fireworks from authorized vendors. Safe and sane booths will begin setting up in Lodi on Tuesday, June 24, and fire department staff will inspect them on Saturday, June 28. If a booth passes inspection, nonprofits can then begin selling the fireworks until 10 p.m. on July 4. The six nonprofits sponsoring booths this year are AndraeStrong, The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, One Love — Community Outreach. Inc., Tokay Boys Basketball Booster Association and Knockout Parkinson's, Inc. Booth locations will be released in the coming weeks.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Lodi officials revamp lottery process for fireworks booths after last year's snafu
Mar. 7—The City of Lodi is restructuring its fireworks booth application process after a paperwork error caused an uproar among the nonprofit community last year. The Lodi Fire Department accepts applications from local nonprofits to operate "safe and sane" fireworks booths in the week leading up to Independence Day. All applicants are placed in a lottery and six are chosen to operate booths, given they and the fireworks vendor submit the proper paperwork. Another six are placed in a queue in the event the application process goes awry. This year, the department will be extending the amount of time nonprofits have to apply for booths. "My number one concern through this whole thing is safety" Ken Johnson told the Lodi City Council Wednesday evening. "Any time you're bringing things that explode into the community, it causes me a little concern," he said. "And I want to make sure we have a process where we have good actors who participate in this process and we have a safe season." The department hosted a fireworks workshop at Carnegie Forum on Monday, and several nonprofits interested in operating booths were given applications for the lottery, which are due by Monday, March 30. Fire department staff and the city clerk's office will take 48 hours to review the applications, and nonprofits must have been in in Lodi for at least one year with a a minimum 10 members who live within the city limits. The lottery will be held Friday, April 11, where six nonprofits will be selected at random to operate the booths, Another six will be selected as alternates in the event one or more of the lottery winners fail to meet requirements or are unable to participate in fireworks sales. Lottery winners will have until Friday, May 9 to submit their applications to operate the booths. If a lottery winner cannot operate a booth, an alternate will be notified no later than May 21, and they will have until June 9 to submit an application. Applications will again be reviewed over a 48-hour period by fire and city clerk staff. Each nonprofit selling fireworks must have a safety operator on site at all times, and the department will host training classes in early June. Booths will be set up on Tuesday, June 24, and fire department staff will inspect them on Saturday, June 28. If a booth passes inspection, nonprofits can then begin selling the fireworks until 10 p.m. on July 4. The revised process comes after all six nonprofits that won last year's lottery were denied the ability to operate booths after paperwork had not been completed. The six alternates were then chosen to operate the booths, but not before rumors spread that fireworks would not be sold in Lodi due to the denial of the original applicants. Don Pascarella. a representative of TNT Fireworks, said the revised process was a great effort to make things easier for the nonprofits who sell his company's products. He said last year's error was a miscommunication with St. Peter Lutheran Church. "When they submitted the 10 names (of members), one was listed as living on Kettleman Lane," he said. "But it was on Kettleman Lane outside the city limits. You's think, because this church has been in town 100 years, they would have people in the city limits. But they were disqualified." Johnson said the department has always made it clear that members of a nonprofit must live within the city limits, and that these new 48-hour review periods will help alleviate a lot of miscommunication issues. Councilman Mikey Hothi said after last year's error, he was glad to see a new process in place and that the fire department was willing to help applicants through it. "This process has been a nightmare for the last two years," Hothi said. "Especially last year, when all of us were dragged in the media and everywhere else because of shortcomings."
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Divine intervention? Lodi pastor calls for traffic signal after latest accident at busy intersection
Mar. 6—A local church leader is calling for a traffic signal in north Lodi after a vehicle crashed into their building this week. Timothy Stewart, pastor at Vintage Church, located at 444 W. Turner Road, was taking his children to school Tuesday morning when he noticed several Lodi Police Department patrol cars and Lodi Fire Department personnel in the parking lot. Stewart pulled over and got out of his vehicle to find a white Nissan Murano had crashed into the northwest corner of the church. This was the second time in two weeks a vehicle left the roadway and ended up on church property, Stewart said, as a vehicle had run over the flower garden in the other incident. "Kids walk that area all the time, and we've had some close calls," he said. "I turn left onto Turner from California (Street) five days a week. It's a very precarious situation there." Stewart said the Nissan's driver told him she was behind several other vehicles stopped at the Edgewood Drive and Turner Road intersection, and attempted to go around them. She was then sideswiped by another vehicle traveling along Turner Road, and hers collided with the church. "I'm thankful she did hit the church," Stewart said. "If she had hit that gigantic concrete light pole out front, this would have been a very different situation." No one involved in the collision was seriously hurt, he said, and there was no one inside the church when the Nissan hit the corner. However, the impact was so great it caused the wall to crack inside the building. Stewart said he hopes the city will consider placing a stop light at the intersection, given its history of vehicles either colliding with each other or the church. In March of 2001, a Ford Bronco traveling east on Turner Road struck a Chevrolet Camaro attempting to make a left turn onto California Street. The impact caused the Camaro to strike the church's wall, which had been freshly painted. Intersections must meet California Department of Transportation qualifications to be considered for traffic signals, including high traffic volume in the area; large numbers of accidents that could be prevented with a traffic signal; high speeds; and be located a considerable distance from another intersection with a traffic signal. There are signals along Turner Road at Woodhaven Lane, Mills Avenue, Ham Lane, Church and Stockton streets. It was reported last December that Lodi's newest traffic signal will be going up at the intersection of Victor Road and Guild Avenue, east of Highway 99. "Steady growth in the industrial area east of SR 99 has resulted in additional traffic impacts," said Public Works Director Charlie Swimley. He added that a recent traffic signal evaluation determined the intersection meets the state criteria for signal installation. The project will cost $900,000 to $1 million. The money will come from the city's street impact fees.
